Avoiding US goods and services – from tech to whisky to air travel – has forced many to find a new way of living
This week the US imposed 50% tariffs on US$20bn (£15bn) of Canadian goods, and Mark Carney, the country’s prime minister, has vowed to match them “dollar for dollar” after the collapse of trade talks between the two countries last weekend. Donald Trump retaliated on Thursday by ordering the federal government to rename Lake Ontario to Lake America.
Such actions have added fuel to a widespread boycott of US products and services by Canadians that began early last year in response to the president’s trade war and threats to annex his northern neighbour.
More than 3,500 people from across Canada shared with the Guardian via an online callout how they have made changes to their lives in response to the US administration’s political and economic stance. Many expressed deep anger and sadness, but remained resolute that this was now a new way of living.
Very common. I’ve notices the US products are basically permanently on sale, and for the last year it’s commonplace to see non-US products replacing the US products. I take that as a sign US made products just aren’t selling all that well.
The grocery stores kinda to a half-assed labeling effort to indicate which products are Canadian, but it’s really inconsistent. Seems like they don’t want to be doing this, but are responding to pressure from customers.
Try to book a hotel in Canada right now. Everything is booked out because Canadians are taking their holidays within Canada instead of going to the US.
And yeah, I’m not buying US made products anymore. There are some Maple-MAGA types that aren’t, but it seems a lot of people are checking labels, and putting the products with “Made in USA” back on the shelf and getting something else.